What did the writers like so much about Riley ?

[NoShip]

unless you think he wants to catch Buffy off guard. Him knowing to go to the Doublemeat Palace rather that Revello Drive or the Magic Box means he has some idea what's going on in Buffy's life

The info on Buffy was probably in his operations officer's files. If not, he just called the local FBI office who told her where she was working. Remember, the Iniative's overseers directed that Buffy be kept under serveillance.

 

[thetopher]

unless you think he wants to catch Buffy off guard. Him knowing to go to the Doublemeat Palace rather that Revello Drive or the Magic Box means he has some idea what's going on in Buffy's life

Sounds like that conspiracy about Riley framing Spike as The Doctor lol.

Conversely it makes sense that the remnants of the Initiative- the monster hunting part- would keep a general track of that one independent superpowered demon hunter that helped them out one time and mark her as (maybe) a resource to be utilized?

He wasn't mission focused though. If he was he would've told Buffy not to kill the Suboltai Demon as he wanted

So he made a mistake? He was so focused on tracking the demon and by the time he and Buffy found it Sam had caught up, distracting Riley whilst Buffy went ahead and killed the demon. That was her assumption as well as Riley not giving her ALL the information because maybe he was a lil' bit caught up seeing his ex?


Man, there is no hate like Riley... hate except Xander hate. No grace given at all. We've gone from 'he was wantonly cruel' via conspiracy theory to 'he wasn't mission focused as all because he made 1 mistake' lol.

 

[garfan]

But I'm not a Riley hater. Season 4 is one of my favorite seasons and I think he was done dirty by his writing out. The issues he has, Buffy's closing off, are frequently cited by fans as a problem when he's not the one doing the complaining and framing his actions as cheating is weird to me.

But in the writers efforts to make him seem cool they make him seem manipulative.

He doesn't know what's going on in Buffy's life but he knows to find her at the embarrassing job she didn't have or need the last time he saw her. He doesn't make it clear the super important mission he needs hercfor is a tracking mission. I believe they skip over most of Buffy informing him what's going on so we never see him lacking information but we also never see him being surprised. All the sympathy he gives her is in a confident, peptalk I'm sure of myself way, never in a sad grieving with you sort of way

 

[thetopher]

He doesn't know what's going on in Buffy's life but he knows to find her at the embarrassing job she didn't have or need the last time he saw her.

I'm sure parts of the government would keep track on Buffy's location at various times. Riley doesn't ask her why she's working there because 1) He is mission focused and 2) It's kind of none of his friggin' business.
I'm sure he remembers how things ended between them and doesn't want to seem nosy regarding her non-slayer life or impose himself. He's there for slayer-Buffy, not to chat with his ex.

He doesn't make it clear the super important mission he needs hercfor is a tracking mission.

Riley specifically tells Buffy that he's there tracking a scary demon. He's on a tracking mission.

He should've clarified that they shouldn't kill the demon until it leads them to its nest/eggs or whatever; that mistake is on him but he's juggling the awkwardness of working with Buffy and such.

I believe they skip over most of Buffy informing him what's going on so we never see him lacking information but we also never see him being surprised.

I think he probably didn't see Buffy sleeping with Spike coming, despite what the conspirators might claim. So I'm sure Riley knows very little about Buffy's current circumstances, the fact she died for a while, things like that. Nor does he know about Willow being 'off the magicks' or Xander's engagement.
There's plenty of stuff he doesn't know about current Sunnydale, clearly.

 

[hoponlilmama]

I'm sure parts of the government would keep track on Buffy's location at various times. Riley doesn't ask her why she's working there because 1) He is mission focused and 2) It's kind of none of his friggin' business.
I'm sure he remembers how things ended between them and doesn't want to seem nosy regarding her non-slayer life or impose himself. He's there for slayer-Buffy, not to chat with his ex.



Riley specifically tells Buffy that he's there tracking a scary demon. He's on a tracking mission.

He should've clarified that they shouldn't kill the demon until it leads them to its nest/eggs or whatever; that mistake is on him but he's juggling the awkwardness of working with Buffy and such.



I think he probably didn't see Buffy sleeping with Spike coming, despite what the conspirators might claim. So I'm sure Riley knows very little about Buffy's current circumstances, the fact she died for a while, things like that. Nor does he know about Willow being 'off the magicks' or Xander's engagement.
There's plenty of stuff he doesn't know about current Sunnydale, clearly.

Verified that Riley doesn't know what's been going on with Buffy (or any of the Scoobies), with this exchange:

BUFFY: How's your arm?
RILEY: It'll heal. How you doin'?
BUFFY: Complicated question.
RILEY: I just meant-
BUFFY: I know.
RILEY: I hear ya. Got some, uh, big stories to tell you to. If we ever get half a second.
BUFFY: Did you die?
RILEY: No.
BUFFY: I'm gonna win.

 

[Tome]

I don't know how you watch the show and come out thinking the writers loved his character.

Past the events of season four, they don't give him anything to do beside showing up for Buffy from time to time. He doesn't have his own character arc until he starts getting his blood sucked off. They also barely do anything with him in relation to the other Scoobies, like Xander and Willow.

Then they write him out in a way that makes him look like the bad guy. The speed at which that last bit happened was just dumb. He didn't have to leave right away, he didn't need to give Buffy that ultimatum. The writers just wanted to get rid of him and move on to Spike.

Finally, a large portion of the fanbase dislike his character. You think they would have if the writers had been kinder to his character?

 

[hoponlilmama]

I don't know how you watch the show and come out thinking the writers loved his character.

Past the events of season four, they don't give him anything to do beside showing up for Buffy from time to time. He doesn't have his own character arc until he starts getting his blood sucked off. They also barely do anything with him in relation to the other Scoobies, like Xander and Willow.

Then they write him out in a way that makes him look like the bad guy. The speed at which that last bit happened was just dumb. He didn't have to leave right away, he didn't need to give Buffy that ultimatum.

It's like Oz v2.
Doesn't get much to do, wrote him out poorly and quickly.

The writers just wanted to get rid of him and move on to Spike.

Which was even poorer decision, but it is what it is.

 

[Tome]

It's like Oz v2.
Doesn't get much to do, wrote him out poorly and quickly.



Which was even poorer decision, but it is what it is.

Yes. Only way a male character can get written out is if he cheats or hurts his girlfriend. 🤣

Although they did give Oz that final episode that kind of made up for that sudden exit.

 

[Btvs fan]

I don't know how you watch the show and come out thinking the writers loved his character.

Past the events of season four, they don't give him anything to do beside showing up for Buffy from time to time. He doesn't have his own character arc until he starts getting his blood sucked off. They also barely do anything with him in relation to the other Scoobies, like Xander and Willow.

Then they write him out in a way that makes him look like the bad guy. The speed at which that last bit happened was just dumb. He didn't have to leave right away, he didn't need to give Buffy that ultimatum. The writers just wanted to get rid of him and move on to Spike.

Finally, a large portion of the fanbase dislike his character. You think they would have if the writers had been kinder to his character?

That was more the Network pressuring Joss to get rid of Riley due to his unpopularity. Why do you think they have Xanders He's the guy who came along once in a life time speech. It was the writers talking to the fans.
When he comes back in AYW, the Vampire biting isn't even referenced, not even in the Previously on at the start of the episode.

Joss himself said fans rejected Riley because they didn't want Buffy to be happy.
Hell listen to a Doug Petrie Commentary he says and I quote "Riley is just so cool" every other sentence.

As for liking Spuffy, David Fury literally called Spike fans serial killer lovers and said the whole point of Crush was to show why they shouldn't be together.

They wouldn't have had him sniffing her sweater and stealing pictures of Buffy if they wanted to set up Spuffy.

And even on Season 5 Angel, Joss has Souled Spike having sex with Harmony!!

Joss may have seen Spike as popular and used that but that doesn't mean Joss liked him as a character. Spike wasn't the only one either. He even said he never got Angel as he was the guy who used to beat him up at School, he still gave him a spin off !

 

[hoponlilmama]

Yes. Only way a male character can get written out is if he cheats or hurts his girlfriend. 🤣

Just a shame with Oz, isn't it? I really liked him and was sorry to see him go. I understand why the actor left though.

Although they did give Oz that final episode that kind of made up for that sudden exit.

It's a good episode, but it always tugs at the heartstrings!